- Sheridan Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 525 students
- Geiger Montessori School — Grades PK–5 · 521 students
- Boze Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 485 students
- Birney Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 476 students
- Helen Stafford Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 453 students
- Crescent Heights Elementary School — Grades K–5 · 451 students
- Browns Point Elementary School — Grades K–5 · 445 students
- Blix Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 442 students
- Sherman Elementary School — Grades K–5 · 432 students
- Manitou Park Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 429 students
- Fawcett Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 426 students
- Reed Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 426 students
- N.E. Tacoma Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 418 students
- Edison Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 413 students
- Arlington Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 390 students
- Washington Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 383 students
- Lyon Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 381 students
- Grant Elementary School — Grades K–5 · 378 students
- Lister Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 376 students
- Whitman Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 365 students
- Jefferson Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 358 students
- Delong Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 349 students
- Mann Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 340 students
- Edna Travis Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 337 students
- Lowell Elementary School — Grades K–5 · 331 students
- + 11 more elementary schools
- Baker Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 687 students
- Stewart Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 650 students
- Mason Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 639 students
- First Creek Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 584 students
- Meeker Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 567 students
- Hunt Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 519 students
- Gray Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 510 students
- Angelo Giaudrone Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 449 students
- Hilltop Heritage Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 447 students
- Truman Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 438 students
- Tacoma Online Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 170 students
- Bryant Montessori Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 135 students
- Stadium High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,700 students
- Lincoln High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,556 students
- Mount Tahoma High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,410 students
- Dr. Dolores Silas High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,160 students
- Tacoma School of the Arts — Grades 9–12 · 658 students
- Foss High School — Grades 9–12 · 599 students
- Science and Math Institute — Grades 9–12 · 597 students
- Tacoma Online High School — Grades 9–12 · 497 students
- Tacoma Open Doors — Grades 9–12 · 392 students
- Industrial Design Engineering and Arts — Grades 9–12 · 392 students
- Oakland High School — Grades 9–12 · 112 students
- Comm Based Trans Program — Grades 12–12 · 71 students
- Wainwright Intermediate School — Grades 4–8 · 368 students
- Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center — Grades 6–12 · 21 students
- The School at Pearl Youth Residence — Grades 6–12 · 21 students
- Special Services — Grades PK–12 · 9 students
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| Metric | Tacoma Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 66 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $14,700/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Supervisory Union | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Tacoma Public Schools
Families searching for schools in Tacoma, Washington (ZIP 98416) are zoned to Tacoma Public Schools. At 6/10 it lands near the middle of Washington districts on the data NCES reports. The district covers Pre-K – 12th. Review the funding and enrollment data above, then contact the district to confirm which schools serve your exact address before you commit to a move.
Funding and Resources
Per-pupil spending at Tacoma Public Schools runs approximately $14,700 annually, placing it near the Washington state average of approximately $14,500 and near the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Near-average districts typically provide core academic programs with adequate staffing, though program breadth may be more limited than in higher-funded systems. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
Tacoma Public Schools is a district of unknown size with multiple schools serving students from Pre-K – 12th. Contact Tacoma Public Schools to learn about available programs and services.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Tacoma Public Schools 6 out of 10 — average among Washington public school districts. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Tacoma Public Schools falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 98416
Children in zip code 98416 are assigned to Tacoma Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 98416, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Tacoma Public Schools at (253)571-1000 or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Washington districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Tacoma
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Tacoma Public Schools serves zip code 98416, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 98416 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Washington, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Tacoma Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 98416.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Tacoma Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 98416 data.